Kenya officials blame software for test-score errors

Outdated computer software is to blame for errors in the 2007 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education results, according to government officials.

When the results were released in February, a computer error led to the mean scores of some candidates being upgraded by one point, according to Education Minister Sam Ongeri.

During the validation process, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), realized the mistake and recalled the results, reducing the marks.

This caused outrage from students, teachers, parents and IT experts in the country. According to Washington Odhiambo, an IT expert, the education minister was looking for a way of avoiding a legal battle with angry parents, students and school head teachers.

"The minister did not find any human to blame for the fiasco. It's a case of rogue computers not taking any instructions from human beings. Go to court if you want, but it was a computer error," Odhiambo said.

As an expert who understands the technical processes involved, Odhiambo says that the minister avoided dealing with the real issues by blaming computers.

"I had to switch off my TV when I heard the minister giving the verdict. I had to do this so many times these days in order to try and retain my sanity," he said.

Dorcas Muthoni, an open-source software expert called on the ministry and the examination body to ask for technical help from the IT industry experts to avoid such cases in future.

"When we say open source is good for this country, this precisely what we mean, the code is audited and peer reviewed. We shall be glad to assist. It doesn't matter what programming language was used to write this critical application, it can be vetted and enhanced," Muthon said.

There are calls for resignation of KNEC officials; others want the Council disbanded, while others have called for a parallel examining body.

Frida Were, KNEC's public relations officer, has responded to the public outcry, saying that it was only the mean scores that were affected by the error. The individual subject marks as awarded by examiners remain unchanged.

Faced with the raging debate, Ongeri appointed a 16-member committee, chaired by Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor Olive Mugenda, to investigate the whole matter. The committee investigated and found that computer error was to blame.